UI Design Articles & Videos

  • Complex vs. Complicated

    Complexity isn't a design failure—complication is. Learn the difference between perceived and operational simplicity for expert users.

  • Tabs: Humble, Yet Powerful

    Learn what tabs are, when to use them, and how navigation tabs differ from in-page tabs in UI design.

  • Using AI for UX Work: Study Guide

    Unsure where to start? Use this collection of links to our articles and videos to learn about the best ways to use artificial intelligence for UX work.

  • Does Your Form Really Need a Dropdown List?

    Dropdown lists can be used in narrow, specific scenarios, but misuse can cause more harm than alternatives.

  • Web UX: Study Guide

    Unsure where to start? Use this collection of links to our articles and videos to learn how users interact with the web and how to design effective web user experiences.

  • Prompt to Design Interfaces: Why Vague Prompts Fail and How to Fix Them

    Create better AI-prototyping designs by using precise visual keywords, references, analysis, as well as mock data and code snippets.

  • Tesler’s Law: Shift Complexity to Simplify UX

    Understand how Tesler’s Law impacts user experience, and how UX teams can design simpler, smarter digital products.

  • Anatomy of Good Icons

    Icon clarity is shaped by consistent layout, stroke thickness, and the handling of exterior and interior corners.

  • Why Disabled Buttons Hurt UX (and How to Fix Them)

    Disabled buttons often confuse users by appearing clickable but providing no response or feedback. Designers should use them sparingly, ensure they’re accessible, and clearly explain why the button is disabled.

  • Few Guesses, More Success: 4 Principles to Reduce Cognitive Load in Forms

    Four principles of form design — structure, transparency, clarity, and support — minimize users’ cognitive load and improve usability.

  • The Floppy Disk Icon as “Save:” Still Appropriate Today?

    Users still recognize the floppy disk icon as ‘save,’ but evolving workflows mean it may no longer be the clearest or most appropriate choice in many cases.

  • Card View vs. List View

    List view allows for easy sorting and is space efficient, while card view is visually engaging and creates effective groupings.

  • User-Interface Elements: Glossary

    Use this glossary to quickly clarify definitions for key graphical user-interface elements and controls.

  • NN/g’s Free UX Templates and Guides

    Use this curated set of free NN/g templates and guides for inspiration and to accelerate your product development activities and UX career.

  • Checkboxes: Design Guidelines

    Checkboxes allow users to select one, some, or none of items from a list. They can be used standalone, in checkbox lists, or nested checkbox lists.

  • Glassmorphism: Definition and Best Practices

    Glassmorphism is a UI design trend that features translucent interface components to create depth.

  • What is Whitespace?

    Whitespace is an effective principle to achieve a balanced design, making it easier for your users to scan and read. Consider using a consistent spacing system and the proximity principle to achieve a balanced use of whitespace.

  • Skeuomorphism

    Skeuomorphism involves designing digital interfaces that imitate physical elements, reducing the learning curve for unfamiliar interactions.

  • Scroll Fading 101

    Whether scroll fading is more distracting than usable depends on the following factors: its persistence, responsiveness, and how sparingly it is applied to elements on the page. When used right, this design pattern can improve brand perception, optimize page loading, and make content more digestible.

  • The Negative Impact of Mobile-First Web Design on Desktop

    Mobile-first web designs cause significant usability issues when viewed on desktop. Content becomes overly dispersed across long scrolling pages with expansive white space and enlarged images and fonts, making it difficult for users to consume and understand the information.